Planooraph co



F. A. RUCKMAN.

ACETYLENE GENERATOR. I APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6. 191B. RENEWED MAY 13. 919.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 f "FF' Y- wi/bnwo Vw Gum/" 0 THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60-. WASHINGTON. D. c.

F. A. RUCKMAN.

ACETY-LENE GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6. I918- RENEWED MAY 13. 1919.

1,313,607. PatentedAug. 19,1919.

2 swims-$11221 2.

i T- l THE COLUMBIA PLANpbR-APH c0 WASHXNG TON; n. c.

-UNITED STATES PATENT o o FLOYD A. RUCKMAN, or COLUMBIA CITY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHNSON ACET'YLENE GAS COMPANY, or CRAWFOBDSVILLE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION.

, ACETYLEZN'E-GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 19, 19 19. 7

Application filed February 6, 1918, Serial No. 215,672. Renewed. May 13, 1919. Serial No. 296,926.

To oill'whom it may concern: a

l 3e 1t known that I, FLOYD A. RUOKMAN, a cltlzen of the United States, residing at C0- lumbia City, in the county of Whitely and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene- Generators; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as. will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to acetylene generators and its objectis to provide a generator which will automatically control the pressure of the gas generated therein in such a manner as to provide a uniform pressure with the minimum amount of actuation of the carbid feed valve and which will furthermore provide a means to prevent the generation of a dangerous pressure within the generator casing.

Another object of my invention is to provide a carbid feed valve in a generator of this character which is positive in action and which will provide a positive cut-off for the carbid when through any cause the valve is opened to such an extent as would ordinarily cause a dangerous pressure to be formed within the generator.

A further object of my invention is to provide in a generatorof this character a carbid valve 'which is self-cleaning and which is so constructed as not to obstruct the free flow of carbid therethrough and which is positive in action.

With these and other general objects in view which will appear from the description my invention resides in the novel combination, construction and arrangement of parts to be more fully hereinafter described Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on of Fig. 4:; and,

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the line 77 of Fig. 2.

Briefly. described my invention comprises substantially an acetylene generator ofthe pit'type provided with a pressure controlled gas bell or gasometer. and havin contained therein a novel form of carbi magazine which magazine is provided with a novel form of carbid feed valve to be more fully hereinafter described. The feed valve, commonly called shoe, is substantially a receptacle which is pivotally swung below the mouth of the carbid magazine. and is so formed as to be spaced slightly below the mouth of the magazine to normally receive thecarbid therein from the magazine. Opcrating means are provided whereby the valve is oscillated or tiltedbelow the mouth of the carbid magazine whereby the carbid will be discharged through an aperture provided in one of the walls of the receptacle.

Heretofore in the construction of carbid feed valves used with this class of generator, it has been the common practice to provide a means whereby, as the valve is gradually opened, a cut-off plate is caused to travel across the mouth of the carbid magazine, forming a positive cut-off as the valve is opened. In this, the usual manner of construction, it is customary to place the cut-' off plate slightly above the bottom of the carbld feed shoe, which construction is very ineflicient inasmuch as the carbid will frequently become clogged between the plate line 66 and the walls of the feed shoe, whereby,

the valve will be causedto become defective and inoperative. It. is especially to avoid these objectionable features that I have constructed my improved form of carbid feed valve which'is so constructed that carbid will normally be discharged from the aperture formed in the walls of the feed receptacle or shoe upon a slight tilting movement of the receptacle comprisingthe valve. Should a heavier pressurev be desired upon further lowering movement of the gas. bell the valve will be tilted farther, thereupon bringing the aperture in the wall of the. carbid receptacle comprising the valve into (11- rect registry with the mouth of the carbid magazine, permitting a direct dlscharge scribed. Hence'it will be" seen that this valve provides a means for normal discharge of the carbid and provides also for direct discharge of the carbid and lastly provides for emergency cut-off 'when the valve is swung to a dangerously wide open position. These features are not attainable by the use of any of the valves constructed in the generators of the present day type and the further novel features of my valve. willbe brought out in the description.

,Referring more particularly to the drawin'gs in detail in whichlike reference numerals indicate like parts I have shown and described my invention'as applied to a generator of the pit type having a substantiallycylindrical-casing providedl with a frustoconical, base portion and having at "its top a substantially conical shaped lid or cover,

to be removably secured thereon and pro .vided-with an opening in its top to provide a breathing port for the machine, all of which, cover, casing and frusto-conical bottom portion, are generally designated 'as at A. Suitable pipes are provided on the "walls of the casing and so connected to the interior as to provide an efiic'ient service main and the manner of construction and; arrrngement of these pipes forms no part:- of my present invention but has been dc; sc r ibed and claimed by'me in acopending' application filed with the present one. Thegenerator is provided in its interior, with an inner shell 1 between which shell and wall of the generator casing operates a gas;

ometer 2 within a water seal provided at 7 the bottom portion of the inner shell; As

a means for regulating theamount of water used in the formatlon of this water'seal I provide a vent 3 formed through the wall I of the inner shell at a point whichis desired to control the level of the water w ithin'the water seal. The gas bell is formed with a securely attached cover thereon, as at 4,

which cover is provided with'han dle mem'-' *bers for lifting same out of the'generat'or casing; and the gas bell is also provided.

with a suitable cap"5 centrally located in' the cover and adapted to provide a means whereby access may 'be had to the interior ofQthe generator throughthe' cover of the gasb'ell"or 'gasometer; This cap or cover is fastened any suitable manner and is PTO-J vid'e'dwith a vent valve of the usual type erating rod.

and provided with a curved handle 6, which owing to its curved construction provides a positive means of limiting the actuation of the vent valve to avoid any possibility of the valve being opened too wide or of being turned past its closed position when it is desired to shut off the valve.

' Allpart of the generating chamber are disposed beneath and within this movable .gas hell or gasometer and comprise in detail a carbid magazine 7 having a downwardly inclined and contracted mouth 8 and being removably positioned on the inner shell 1 by meansof supporting lugs suitably secured to the inner shell atdesired points on the interior of the shell. At one side of the frustoconical bottom portion of the generator which is adapted to contain the water therein is an upwardly extending sludge removng pipe 9 which is suitably supported with in the casing and is extended upwardly adjacent the wall of the inner shell which is provided with a suitable bearing for the pipe at its top as at 10, the upper end of pipe 9 terminating slightly above the top of the inner shell. To accommodate this pipe 7 and to accommodate the valve operating rod to be hereinafter described, I providea substantially segmental open portion 11 in the wall of the carbid magazine which has an open bottom portion and a removable inclined top as at 12. The'closed top 12 of this segmental open portion 11 is provided with a suitable bearing which is apertured to receive therethrough a vertically extending valve operating rod 13 normally projecting abovethe top of the carbid magazine to be forced downwardly under action of the'gas bell on the operation of the valve. \Vhen in position, the closcd'up'per portion 12 is disposed over the upper end of the pipe 9 to provide aclosure or cover therefor; and extending" over this closed portion and over theentire upper end of the magazine is a removable cover 14 provided with suitable means whereby it may be removed from the magazine, and it'is also provided'with an aperture to receive therethrough the up wardly eXtendingportion 'of the valve op'.

' r f 9 On the downwardly inclined bottom of the carbid' magazine is attached an annular water shed member 15 to prevent any water of condensation} from coming in contact with the carbid contained in the valveof the mechanism. i Pivotally mounted on the mouth of the carbid. magazine by means of'arms' 16; is a weighted carbid shoe or receptacle 17 disposed so as to swing below the mouth "of the magazine. This shoe or receptacle asitwill be'hereinafter described. is formed with a closed bottom and provided with'an -.a: e1---' ture as at 18 111 one wall. The receptacleis pivoted so as to" oscillate below and acrossr to the magazine and depending therebelow,

the mouth of the magazine and is..so formed asto recelve a lowerprojecting port on 19 of the mouth of theflmagazine; within the receptacle, and extends slightlyabovethe closed bottom portion of the -receptacle,

whereby to norm-ally dispose vaj small 8 1 01 of carbid within, the recepitacle. The aperture '18, which adapted to act as a discharge aperture for carb1d;fromthereceptacle, is disposed at one: side of the mouth,

of themagazine, whereby, when thereceptacle is in normal inoperative position, car

is an arcuately formed cut-off plate 21 dis posed below the path of swinging movement of the receptacle, so as to effectually close the discharge aperture 18 when the latter is swung over the cut-ofl plateby the downward movement of the valve operating rod 13. I

In Fig. 1, I have clearly. illustratedthe specific construction of my improved carbid receptacle which is disposed below the ll'lOlltllof the magazine and I 'have illustrated the m eans for providing automatic cleaning oi thebvalvefcomprisin-g a raised portion 22 surrounding the mouth, of the aperture-l8ia nd projecting outwardly; from the receptacle whereby to, sweep ,over the plate21when the aperture is alined therewith 'and to prevent the lodgingofany carbid thereon in a manner to obstruct the movement and hinder the operation of the valve or receptacle. 3

In the operation of my improved feed valve the operating rod 13, which is suitably bent to provide a watershed thereon, is forced downwardly as the gasometer is lowered, whereby the feed receptacle 17 will be slightly tilted thereby allowing a small;v

portion of the carbid collected in the receptacle to roll through the aperture and generate a sufficient amount of gas within the chamber to raise the gasometer from contact with the operating rod, and this enables the weighted portion of the receptacle to return the receptacle to its normal position, thereby disposing the closed bottom portion of the receptacle slightly below the downwardly projecting mouth portion 19 of the carbid magazine. If for any reason the lumps of carbid should become so arranged as to retard the flow from the magazine the pres sure of the gas within the chamber will be decreased and the gasometer will be lowered so as to cause the tilting of the receptacle 17 to bring the aperture-18 in registry with or directly below the month of the magazine, whereby a direct discharge of carbid from the will be permitted;therethifough.

which will ordinarily be sufficient to allow suhicient pressure generated, to again raise thegasometer and restore the parts to nor mal working position' If for any unforeseen reason the ,partsgof the mechanism should become defective or deranged in such n' annei'asto cause the rapid lowering of the gasoln'eter, the receptacle comprising the valve would be swung clear across the mouth 7 of the magazine so as to bring the aperture 18 into alineinent with the upperr face of the arcuate cut-01f plate 21, thereby provid- I ing a positive emergency cut -off for the valve in its opened position to absolutely prevent any dangerous run of carbid from thefniagazine. The raised portion '22, surrounding the discharge aperture 18, will' sweep across the plate 21 and dislodge any lumps [of carbid which may have collected thereon so as to preventtheir hindering the operation of the valve thereby-providing auton'iaticcleansing means/for the valve.

In the normal operation of the generator, the gasometer will rise and fall onlyslightly between charges, thereby providing a slight tilting ofthe caiibid feed receptacle which is suflicient to cause a small discharge of carbid through the discharge aperture therein without bringing the same into direct alinement with the mouth of the magazine.

This gradualrise and fall thus obtained will" insure a uniform pressure within ,the generatorwwhich is very desirable and which will be jinaintained owing to the free flow allowed the carbid within therecep'tacle and through the discharge aperture thereof, as it will be seen that there are no b a-flies or members formed with-in the receptacle itself,

to check or obstruct in anymanner the flow of the. carbid therein. Theiwalls of the receptacle are so formed as to provide directing faces 'for the carbid, the wall of the rece-ptacle having the discharge aperture therein being of a suflicient height to pro vide a retainer for the carbid. thereon when the valve is opened to its widest position with the discharge aperture closed by the emergency cut-ofi' plate 21, whereby the carbid will be prevented from dropping over the sides of the receptacle and thus destroying the utility of the cut-ofl' plate.

The arms 16 are so united with the weighted end of the receptacle 17 as to allow the disposal of supporting arms 20 of the emergency cut-ofl plate 21 between the arms 16 and the adjacent side of the receptacle 17 and thereby to provide a positive guide for the swing of the receptacle. The arms 16 are pivotally connected on the magazine so as to provide forconcentric arrangement of the line of travel of the feed receptacle 1? within the line of the arcuate formation of the cut-off plate 21. These minor details however, I do not specifically rely upon as it is obvious that changes may be made in these details of construction without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention and the principle thereof. Located in the generating chamber and at one side of the magazine is a filter (not shown) having connection with the surface main, the filter as well as the arrangement, construction and disposition of the other parts ofthe generator which I have shown' but not described are parts of copending applications filed with the present one and form no specific part of my invention as described herein.

As a means of supporting the greater part of the weight of the carbid in the magazine I provide a conical member 19' suitably secured above the mouth of the'magazine as clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings. This member 19 relieves the valve 17 of excessive weight and prevents the carbid from bridging or arching over the outlet 18.

While Ihave shown and described certain specific details of construction and manners of operation of the component parts of this preferred embodiment of my invention I demeans to move said receptacle inone direc;

tion and thus discharge the carbid through said aperture and avplate supported in a; fixed position below said receptacle and adapted to close said aperture whenthe re-e ceptacle has moved a predetermined distance 7 1 in said direction.

2. In an acetylene generator, the combination with the magazine, of a carbid feed receptacle having a closed bottom spaced below the mouth of the magazine and provided with a discharge aperture in one wall thereof and at one side of the magazine mouth, said receptacle being pivoted to swing below said'mouth, operating means to oscillate said receptacle and thus discharge the'carbid through said aperture, and a member disposed at'the opposite side of the magazine mouth to close said aperture upon extreme tilting of the receptacle.

3. In an acetylene generator, the combination with a magazine having a. downwardly inclined contracted mouth, of a carbid feed receptacle having a closed bottom and -piv-' oted onsaid magazine to swing below the mouth, the mouth of said magazine extending into and spaced above the bottom of said receptacle, one wall of the receptacle having a discharge aperture therein at one side of the magazine mouth, a cut-off plate supported below said magazine at the opposite side of the mouth, an automatically controlled operating means to oscillate said receptacle to discharge gcarbid therefrom through said aperture at one stage and to register said aperture and mouth for di-' ,rect discharge of carbid therefrom at ana other stage and to engage said aperture over said plate to close the aperture at the extreme limit of swing of the receptacle and thus cut 01f flow of the carbid. i

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FLOYD A. RUCKMAN.

'Witnesses j LLOYD T. BAILEY, GEO. O. COMPTON.

Copies of this patent may be, obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, I). G. 

